Protective effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza aqueous extract on myocardium oxidative injury in ischemic–reperfusion rats

• Salvia miltiorrhiza has strong antioxidative activity.
• SAME decreased ΣST120, MDA, AST, CK-MB, and heart antioxidant enzyme activities.
• SAME pre-treatment significantly upregulated p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein expression.
• SAME pre-treatment has anti-ischemic and anti-apoptosis activities in heart IR rats.

Salvia miltiorrhiza has strong antioxidative activity. They may have a strong potential as cardioprotective agents in ischemic–reperfusion injury. Experiments were carried out in Sprague–Dawley rats with myocardium ischemia reperfusion (IR). Myocardial injuries during IR were determined by changes in electrocardiogram analysis of arrhythmias, antioxidant enzyme activities, AST, CK-MB, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and myocyte apoptosis. Results showed that S. miltiorrhiza aqueous extract (SAME) pre-treatment significantly decreased the ST-segment (ΣST120) and myocardium MDA, AST, CK-MB, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, increased myocardium antioxidant enzyme activities, and inhibit myocardium cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the SAME pre-treatment significantly upregulated p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein expression, decreased myocardium TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in IR rats. The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were positively correlated with the changes in myocardium p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein expression levels in IR rats. It can be concluded that the SAME pre-treatment has anti-ischemic and anti-apoptosis activity in heart IR rats. SAME pre-treatment protects heart against IR injury, at least in part, through its stimulating effects on injury-induced deactivation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.